The Georgia Baptist, 1898-08-25

world. During the civil war, and at the close of it the practicability of the black soldier was doubted, Ik was thought he would not make a Igood soldier. But, in spite of I personal hate and general prejudice he enlisted willingly in the ranks and demonstrated his ability as a soldier. His true nerve, patriotic heroism and willingness to endure hardships and privation for the sake of his country, somplettiy won the esteem of the president, who said, no braver men than they ever stood before so brave an enemy, and that during the long night of war, not a traitor in black skin was General Ben Butler, after following in the track of a charging column of his colored troopers, and viewing the dead and mangled forms of 543 of them in a space 10 yards wide and 390 ' yards long, said as he gazed upon the bronzed faces upturned to the sun, my right hand lose it 3 cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if ever I fail to defend the rights of those men who have given their bleed for me ' and my country this day and their race To become thorough ly conversant with the heroism and fidelity displayed by the black sol soldier - dier soldier daring tbe^ml war, due & only te search the archives of some library in a locality where the black man is looked upon as a human 'being, fashioned by the Divine Hand of the Master. It is needless ' to say that the colored soldier wil give an account ot himself in our present war; as the gallant conduct of the Tenth cav : Iry, colored, proves. They are of inestimable value; because of their being al almost - most almost imperv ois to 'yellow jack.' They are physically of a higher average than white troops, les 8 given to the use of alcohol, are sick sickless, - less, sickless, and recover quicker and above all, are gentle and This is a high compliment from a western white man. I The Philadelphia Press says: leveryI every forward movement in our ! national lif- the Negro comes to the front, and shares in the advance jwith each national expansion lie does his part of the work, and de deserves - serves deserves equal The New York Mail and Express says: honor to the blue k troop troopers - ers troopers es the gallant Tenth. By the side of the intrepid Rough Riders, they followed their leader up the terrible hill, from whose crest the desperate Spaniards poured down a deadly fire of shell and musketry. They never faltered. F ig as I they marched, their aim wa< -den -dens - s -dens did,their coolness superb, an : their courage aroused the admiratii of

was removed from the national| escutcheon, and more than four million human beings liberated. During this same century, the prophetic words of the immortal Lincoln at Gettysburg, have been fulfilled. He< predicted, in that memorable speech, that na nation, - tion, nation, under God, should have a' new birth of freedom, and that' government of the people, for the' people and by the people should! not perish from the The Negro was born into freedom and into citizenship during this century; and yet, before its close, he is permitted to uphold and de defend - fend defend the dignity of the American flag, and bring fame and glory to his countiy and his race. This century, burdened with history, hoary with age, and wonderful in heroic achievements, is putting on her sable robe to retire into quiet respose. She comes to her grave as a shock of corn fully ripe in its season. She will take her place with the centuries born, and will report her victories and accomplish accomplishments - ments accomplishments when the Island of Time jshall be reunited with the Conti Continent - nent Continent of Immortality. I have thought it appropriate to talk to you upon !*ff subject: Soldiers and Negro Citi - History gives us the information that those men who haye been most conspicuous as soldiers and heroes and have voiced the sentiments of the people, were soldiers who dis displayed - played displayed the heroic spirit on the field of battle, and in pure love of jus justice, - tice, justice, as in defense of liberty and in vindication of the weak and in injured; - jured; injured; in suppressing the proud, ambitious and cruel; in opposing the oppression of the weak, and in removing the galling yoke of per persecution - secution persecution from the neck of the per persecuted. - secuted. persecuted. The true mission of the| soldier is purely and strictly a de defensive - fensive defensive one. TLe negro has figured conspicuous in wars from time al almost - most almost immemorial.

lomat, a soldier and a patriot. David inquired about bis son Ab Absolom, - solom, Absolom, Cushi said: enemies I of my lord, the king, and all that rise against thee, to do thee hurt, be as that young man 1.0 The records of the revolutionary | war show Negro soldiers to have been among the patriots who se secured - cured secured liberty to the ^colonies by I their blood. Some of the - four have said that the negroes did not fight in the revolu revolutionary - tionary revolutionary war. Let us hear truth from another source. Prof. J. T. Derry, historian, formerly of this city, but now of Atlanta, says: find it stated in Bancroft's history of the United States, Vol. VII, page 421, that free Negroes served in the American army around Bos - In Horace Greeley's Ameri American - can American Conflct, Vol. 11, pages 511 to 515, there is a full account of Ne Negro - gro Negro soldiers in the revolution; even in Virginia, slaves were enlisted, freedom being granted to them, and the same pay of white soldiers as a reward for their bravery and patriotism. Greely states that an official return of the negroes serving in the army under command of Washington after the battle of Monmouth, made their number 755; and that Rhode Island, Massa Massachusetts - chusetts Massachusetts and New York furnished Negro soldiers. The regi - from Rhode Island fought bravely at the battle of Rhode Is Island - land Island and elsewhere. He states that Col. Henry Lawrence, of South Carolina, and his son, John, also urged the freeing and arming of Negroes during the revolutionary period. Dr. J. Win. Jones, his historian - torian historian of Virginia, says: authorities show that the negroes were brave and efficient soldiers.' We know of Attacks, Salem and Caldwell. The people of Massa Massachusetts - chusetts Massachusetts have erected a bronze stutue to Crispus Attack, on Bos Boston - ton Boston Commons.

gwera^ tion has passed away. An Announcement - nouncement Announcement had been made through the papers of the city that the flag presentation ex exercises - ercises exercises would take place at Camp Dyer at 6 o'clock in the afternoon but the people began to go out to the camp at 2 o'clock. On the large open field north of the Camp, near Nellieville Academy, a large platform had been erected. Before the hour fir the exer exercises - cises exercises to begin several thousand people had assembled. The citizens committee of ladies and gentlemen and the local military, composed of the Douglass Infantry, commanded by Capt. A. F. Golphin; the Attucks Infantry, commanded by Capt. R. G. Cummings; the Georgia Light Infantry, com commanded - manded commanded by Lieut. W. J. Walk Walker - er Walker and the Augusta Guards commanded by Capt. John! Lark, the four companies com-| prising the 3rd battalion of col colored - ored colored state troops commanded by Lieut. Colonel Isaiah Block Blocker, - er, Blocker, boarded special cars on the Turpin Hill line provided for the occasion and went out toI the Camp. The handsome flag! to be presented to the 10th regi-| ment was taken out to the Camp by Dr. W. J. White, chairman of the citizens com committee - mittee committee and by him at the prop proper - er proper timeit was turned over to Miss Lucy C. Laney, Mrs. Rosa Stoney and Miss Mittie M. Mil Miller, - ler, Miller, to be presented by Miss Laney to the color sergeant of the regiment.

!pied a place on the platform and dispensed some very fine music during the exercises. At the appointed time Dr. W. J. White who had been chosen I to preside called the vast crowd ,to order and introduced Bishop iR. S. Williams to offer prayer. ;The prayer of Bishop Williams Iwas peculiarly appropriate to 'the occasion; it was touchingly patriotic and fervent. I _D^C. T. Walker, the widely known and eloquent preacher I was then introduced to make the address of the occasion. !He spoke as follows, being loud ly cheered frequently while he spoke. IMr. President, Ladies and Gentle Gentlemen: - men: Gentlemen: lam highly and expressibly gratified to be present with you, and to be permitted to speak to you on this occasion which brings us together. We are making history. History is an immense but crowded exhibi exhibition - tion exhibition of prominent and solid facts. We are in the closing years of the greatest of all the centuries, save one, since time began its majestic flight. No century has been so remarkable and historic as the nineteenth century,, except the period in which the lowly Nazarene came to earth; that period in which the eternal light was seen rising in the east, when the flicker flickering - ing flickering of types and shadows had died out, and the people of earth began to worship our God as the God of nations and the God of history.

When the kingdom of Israel was divided during David's reign, and, Absalom established a kingdom in rebellion to his father's, war was the result. Joab was commande r of that part of Israel that was loya! to David; and in his army was Cushi, a Negro, who was instructed with a message to David concern concerning - ing concerning the death of Absolom; there was a priest, by name Abimaaz, who thought that too much honor,l had been conferred upon Cushi. So he outran Cushi to break the news to the king; but the whole story was not told the king until Cushi reached him, and the intelli intelligent - gent intelligent and yet unique, way in which Cushi informed David, distinguish distinguished - ed distinguished the in as a

The path of history is lined on either side with the providences and purposes of God. The century has been an era of universal awak awakening; - ening; awakening; busy, progressive and re remarkably - markably remarkably agressive. It is noted for its inventions and developments, discoveries and improved methods; its mental excitements and com commercial - mercial commercial greatness, its industrial en enterprises - terprises enterprises and missionary operations. This century has been marked by its civil and ecclesiastical freedom. In this country the blot of finely

With regards to the civil war and the American-Spanish war, I want to make some quotations from some of the leading men and jour journals - nals journals of this country: Mr. Frank Oyler, of Harveys Harveysburg, - burg, Harveysburg, 0., says: is a curious but indisputable fact, that many people are grossly ignorant of the fighting qualities of the colored man. The alacrity with which the black man has enlisted in the array in the present with Spain bus aroused th? admiration of the